The Rhetoric of Protest (Spring 2008)

DIRECTIONS: READ THROUGH THE QUESTIONS BELOW. THEN, ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER, GO BACK THROUGH THE READINGS AND THE CLIP AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY. YOU WILL TURN THIS IN FOR A GRADE DURING CLASS ON MONDAY.

1) Let's agree (for the sake of discussion) that we see Stewart's show as a form of protest against the incompetency of the government as well as the journalists who report the news. What kinds of criticisms does he offer of the government? What kinds of criticisms does he offer of journalists? Political commentators?
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2) Bill Moyers asks Stewart if he practices "an old form of parody and satire" or "a new form of journalism": do you think he does one or the other? Or, a combination of both? Explain the reasons for your answer.
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3) What is something Stewart might tell someone like Bill O'Reilly or Ann Coulter?
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2) From the readings and the clip, what kinds of strategies do you see Stewart using to make his points on the show?